Up@dawn 2.0

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Poppin' Philosophies: Post 2 (Quinlan Odom H1G1)

"I might not be the same, but that's no important. No freedom till we're equal, damn right I support it."



I love this song. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis tackle so many issues in this one song, it's amazing. The song, entitled "Same Love," was Macklemore and Lewis' attempt to promote the passing of Referendum 74 in Washington state. The referendum was voted on in order to approve or reject a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in that state. The referendum was approved with a 53% majority. In this song, however, the lyrics present more than just the issue of marriage equality. It exposes the hatred and prejudice that we, as a society, have wrought upon the world today.

"And a certificate on paper isn't 
gonna solve it all
but it's a damn good place to start.
No law's gonna change us
we have to change us"
-"Same Love"

Much like the idea present in "Thrift Shop" and "Wings" where the only thing that can define us is ourselves, "Same Love" is about how we are the only ones that can change ourselves. True change, true equality won't come until we, as a collective group, decide to no longer accept the hate and prejudice that we allow in our lives. 

"If I was gay
I would think hip-hop hates me
Have you read the Youtube comments lately?
'Man that's gay'
Get's dropped on the daily"
-"Same Love"

We can have all the laws in the world but they will only governor our actions. Hatred and prejudice stem from our words and thoughts. When we were kids most of us heard the old "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." Most of us, also, probably know how big of a lie that is. The pen truly is mightier than the sword. So why, if most of the world knows this, do we still spew the hatred from our mouths?

"We've become so numb to what we're saying...
A word rooted in hate
Yet our genre still ignores it
Gay is synonymous with the lesser"
-"Same Love"

That's the answer, right there. We continue saying these things, making those jokes because we think it's funny. In that moment it doesn't seem like hate but the more you repeat it the more you believe it. In a world where one racist joke makes you a racist, how many gay jokes will it take to make you prejudice? Not only do we become numb to what we're saying but so do those around us.

"When I was in third grade
I thought that I was gay
Cause I could draw ...
I told my mom, tears rushing down my face
She's like, Ben you've liked girls since before Pre-K ...
A bunch of stereotypes all in my head
I remember doing the math like
Yeah, I'm good a little league"
-"Same Love"

If we truly want to change our society then we have to change us. We have to change the way we see things. Freedom isn't about what God you believe, what color your skin is, or who you love. Freedom is about all of us being human beings and deserving the same rights. Deserving equality. As Macklemore points out, though, equality won't come from just the law. It comes from the people. 

"Kids are walkin' round the hallways
Plagued by a pain in their hearts
Some would rather die
Than be who they are"
-"Same Love"

There can be no equality when people are afraid to be who they are. Macklemore and Lewis' don't believe we should let anything, other than who we are, define us. In "Same Love," however, they show us that sometimes society won't let us be who we are. We need to change that and the only way to do so is to change us. Equality, to Macklemore and Lewis, won't come from one law but will come from the people. Once we have acceptance we can have equality. 

"Whatever God you believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear
Underneath it's all the same love"
-"Same Love"



**Another good video, not from Macklemore and Lewis, that gives a different perspective on the subject**



1 comment:

  1. Same tired old story: insisting that others conform to our expectations, condemning those who don't, conforming thoughtlessly to others' ourselves. Hope still springs, tho, with the young.

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.